Gun for underwater fishing



Nov. 25, r1958 c. ALINARI GUN FOR UNDERWATER FISHING Filed July 24,v1953 s cn i l I a a 2,861,560 GUN Fon UNDERWATER FISHING Carlo Alinari,Turin, Italy Application July 24, 1953, Serial No. 370,035 Claimspriority, application Italy July 26, 1952 Claims. (Cl. 124-13) gunsemployed in underwater vciple on which the gun operates,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a gun,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the gun according to a furthermodication.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 denotes the gun barrel open at one end andconnected at its other end to a pressure accumulator 2 through ahand-operated valve 3.

4 denotes an arrow provided withV a cylindrical packing seal 5 which isintroduced into 'the barrel at the forward end of the latter. As thearrow 4 is introduced into the barrel, the valve 3 being kept open, theliquid in the barrel flows to the pressure accumulator 2, raising thepressure in the latter. Upon closing the valve3, the gun is loaded landready for firing.

When the arrow is to be shot at the chase, it will be suicient to openthe valve 3, whereby the liquid pressure in the pressure accumulator 2is discharged through the barrel and ejects the arrow from the'barrelinthe direction of the chase.

The accumulator could be chargedA by other means,

modication of the independently of the introduction of the arrow.

According to a modification of the gun shown in `Figure 2, the valve 3can be omitted, the arrow being retained within the barrel, aftercompression of the'liquid, by a hand-actuated bolt 6 engaging a collar 7ixedly secured to the stem of the arrow and `fixed in proximity to itshead 4a. Y

The pressure accumulator can be in the form of a flask 2agof'resilientmaterial, filled with air or any other preferably 'pre-compressed gas.

In view of the high pressure which is desirable within theask, in orderto obtain higher pressuresin the pressurel accumulator, the flask is`provided with an outer sheathing 2b Vof perforated metals, which'prevents any excessive expansion of Vthe resilient a'sk Vwhenpwith`the: gun in discharged condition, the flask is subjected merely to thepressure of'the water columnin proximity to the bottom` or is simplyexposedV to the atmospheric' pressure at the surf ac`e. Y t l' Afurthergun lcoristructionis vshown ini Figure '3,` in which `theconnectionbetween the barrel and pressure accumulator is establishedthrough aquick release yalve.

`9 denotes a"intermediate` casing connectingtogether the barrel 1 andrear casing 2 enclosing the pressure nited States Patent accumulator.The casing 9 is equipped with a hollow handle 9a having an arcuateprojection 9b surrounding the trigger 15.

10 denotes the inner chamber of the casing 9 communicating at one endwith the inside of the barrel and at its rear portion with the pressureaccumulator.

11 denotes a rst valve in the form of a hollow cylinder open at one endand having at its other end a tapered head 11a cooperating with aseating of frustum conical shape in an annular packing 11b at the mouthof the barrel. A second valve 12 is slidably mounted within the rearcylindrical portion of the Vvalve 11, the valve 12 being in the shape ofa hollow cylinder open at one end and having at its other end a taperedhead 12a on its portion projecting from the valve 11 and bearing on aseating bored in an annular member V12b tted in a tubular seating orguide 13 xedly connected to the casing 9 in which the valve 11 isslidably mounted with a' slight peripheral play. The seating 13 iscoaxial with the barrel 1 and with the seating in the annular packing11b and has one end facing said packing 11b and the other endcommunicating through a portion bent at right angles with the inner endof the handle 9 and through lateral openings 22 cut in the arcuateprojection 9b of the latter with the outside of the gun. rl`he innerdiameter of the portion of said seating or guide in which the valve 11slides is greater than the outer diameter r of said seating of frustumconical shape provided in the annular packing 11b. A spring 14interposed between thevalves 11 and 12 and arranged inside the hollowbodies of the latter holds the valves normally i'n their closedposition. The hole bored in the bottom of the cylindrical seating 13connects the inside "of saidseating 13 with the surrounding space duringopening of the valve V12. 'Y

Y 12e denotes an extension on the valve 12 projecting rearwardly throughthe opening in the bottom oi'theV seating 13 and bearing against an arm15a of'a trigger 15 mounted for oscillation on a spindle 16 andissubjected to the action of a helical spring 20 ensuring constantly thecontact between the free end of the extension 12e and the arm 15a of thetrigger 15.

The gun operates as'follows.

On introduction of the arrow into the barrel 1, the water in the latteris compressed and, upon'overcoming the tension of the spring 14, opensthe valve V11, transferring pressure to the pressure accumulator 2, inwhich pressure rises as the flask 2a is compressed and reduced involume.

As the arrow is pushed home within the barrel it can be left free andthe inner pressure existing in the pressure accumulator 2, hence in thechamber 10, causes, together with the tension of spring 14, the valve toclose.

For shooting the arrow, it will be suilcicnt to depress the trigger 15,causing the valve 12 to open against the tension of spring 14.

' Opening the valve 12 causes the pressure to sink within the seating13, in which the stem of valve `11 is slidably mounted. The latter is'such that a certain ow of liquid from the chamber 10 takes place alongits external circumference in order to equalize pressures ahead and pastthe valve under lstatic conditions.

Opening of the valve 12a lowers the pressure past the valve 11 Vin theinner of the seating 13. Since the above arrangement does not allow of aflow of water suicient for again equalizing pressures, a tirst impulseacts on the head-11a of the head 11 lwhich is capable of overcoming both'the tension of lspring 14 andthe force generated by the static pressuretending to close the valve V1'1.

This starts opening of the valve 11, which is rapidly completed aspressure is transferred towards the barrel 1 through the opening in thepacking 11b whereby the arrow is instantaneously shot from the barreland pressnres within the chamber 10 and externally of the gun areequalized.

What I claim is: Y

l. A gun for underwater fishing or hunting comprising, ign combination,a barrel, a hollow casing communicating with one end of said barrel, apressure gas-filled tightly closed container of resilient materialarranged within said hollow casing, an Aouter container of perforatedsheet metal surrounding said tightly closed gas-filled container ofresilient material, an arrow for introducing in said barrel and freelyslidable therein, .a packing gland at the rear end of the said arrowtightly closing the barrel upon introducing of said arrow in saidbarrel, whereby said hollow casing acts as a hydraulic pressureaccumulator lwhen the arrow is fitted within the barrel in submergedcondition of the gun, a non-return valve for controlling thecommunication between the rear `end of the barrel and said hollow casingand means for opening said non-return valve for the purpose of shootingsaid arrow.

2. A gun for underwater fishing or hunting comprising, in combination, abarrel, an intermediate hollow casing and a cup-shaped rear casing, saidbarrel and said rear casing being secured to the opposite ends of saidintermediate casing and supported by the latter, the inner hole of saidintermediate casingA enclosing a chamber communicating with the insideIof the barrel at the rear end of the latter and with the inside 4ofsaid cup-shaped rear casing, a pressure accumulator in said rear casingconsisting in a pressure gasfilled tightly closed container of resilientmaterial, means for preventing an excessive expansion of said container,when the gun is in discharged condition, an arrow for introducing insaid barrel and freely slidable therein, a packing gland fast to therear end of saidI arrow and tightly closing the barrel upon introducingof said arrow in theA barrel, afirst valve seat at the rear end of thebarrel facing the. innerchamber of said intermediate, casing, a tubularguide arranged in said chamber and fixedly connected to saidintermediate casing, one end of said guide facing said firstvalve seatand being spaced therefrom, theother endV of saidl guide communicatingwith the outside of the gun and being closed by an annular member havinga centralbore forming a second valveseat, a first valve for cooperatingwith said first valve seat, said valve-having a tubular stem slidablysupported in said guide and having its free end spaced from said second'valve seat inl said'- guide when saidy first valve bears on said firstvalve sea-t, and stem having its diameter greater than that of 'saidvalve'seat, a

second valve for cooperating with saidlsecondvalve-seat and having atubular. stem mounted` slidably within the tubular stem ofy saidl firstvalve, .the free end of the stem of said second valve being spaced fromsaid first valve when said valves bear onrthe first and second seats,respectively, said second valve havingy an extension extending throughthe central bore of' said annular member forming. said second valve seatand protruding beyond said member, a spring interposed between. saidfirst and secondvalve and arranged inside of their tubular. stems forurging said valves against said first 'and second seat, respectively, ahollow handle fast with said intermediate casing for supporting thegun,A a trigger rotatably supported by aspindle fast to the intermediatecasing and arrangedbelow the end of the extension of said second valveprotruding from the central bore of said second valve seat, an arm onthetrigger extendingl beyond said spindley for engaging said endA oftheextension of said second valve and displacingy the latter againstthetaction of said spring upon depressing of vsaid-trigger, the mountingof -the stem of said first valvein said tubular guide allowing a Certainfiow of liquid from-.the chamber of. saidintermediate casing towards theportion ofthe. inside of said tubular guide near said annular member.'`

3l Av gun for underwater fishingor hunting comprising, in. combination,a barrel, an intermediate hollow casing and a cup-shaped rear casing,said barrel and said rear casing being secured to the opposite ends ofsaid intermediate casing and supported by the latter, the inner hole ofsaid intermediate casing enclosing a chamber communicating with theinside of the barrel at the rear end of the latter and with the insideof said cup-shaped rear casing, a pressure accumulator in said rearcasing consisting in a pressure gas-filled tightly closed container ofresilient material, means for preventing an excessive expansion of saidcontainer, when the gun is in discharged condition, an arrow forintroducing in said barrel and freely slidable therein, a packing glandfast to the rear end -of said arrow and tightly closing the barrel uponintroducing of said arrow in the barrel, a first valve seat at the rearend of the barrel facing the inner chamber of said intermediate casing,a tubular guide arranged in said chamber and fixedly connected to saidintermediate casing, one end of said guide facing said first valve seatand being spaced therefrom, the other end of said guide communicatingwith the outside of the gun and being closed by an .annular memberhaving a central bore forming a second valve seat, .a first valve forcooperating with said first valve seat, said valve having a tubularVstem slidably supported with a slight play in said guide and having itsfree end spaced from said second valve seat in said guide when saidfirst valve bears on said first valve seat, said stem having itsdiameter greater than that of said valve seat, -a second valve forcooperating with said second valve seat and having a tubular stemmounted slidably within the tubular stem of said rst valve, the free endof the stern of said second valve being spaced from said first valvewhen said valves bear on the first and second seats, respectively, saidsecond valve having an extension extendingY through the central bore ofsaid annular member forming said second'valve seat and protruding.beyond said member, a spring interposed between said first and secondvalves and arranged inside of their tubular stems for urging said valvesagainst said firstl and second seat, respectively, a hollow handlefasttwith said intermediate casing for supporting the gun, a vtriggerrotatably supported by a spindle fast to the intermediate casing andarranged below the end of the extension of said second valve protrudingfrom the central bore of said second valve seat, an arm on the triggerextending beyond said spindle for engaging said end ofthe extension ofsaid second valve and displacing the latter against the action ofsaidspring upon depressing of said trigger.

4. Ak gun for underwater fishing or hunting comprising, in, combination,a` barrel, a hollow casing provided with a hollow' handle for supportingsaid barrel a chamber inside said casing communicating atits one e'ndwith the inside ofthe barrel at its other end, a pressure accumulatorformed by a tightly closed container of resilient materialfilledfwithpressure gas, means for preventing an excessivev expansion of saidcontainer when the gun is discharged, an arrow for introducing in'saidbarrel and freely slidableV therein, a packing gland at the rear end ofthe said arrow for tightly closing said barrel upon introducing saidarrow therein, valve means for controlling the communication betweensaid chamber and the barrel inside receiving the arrow and directly withthe outside, said valve means being arranged in said chamber near theend of the latter adjacent the barrel, said valve means comprising afirst valve inthe form of a hollow cylinder open at one end, a. taperedhead at the other end of said first valve, an annular packing at the endof said vchamber communicating with thel barrelY inside a seat offrustum conical shape in said packing for cooperating with the taperedhead of said-first valve, a second valve in the form; ofa hollowcylinder slidably mounted within the end portion of said first valveopposite the head of the latter and projecting therefrom, a tapered headat the end of said second valve, a tubular seating inside said charnberfxedly secured to the said casing and coaxial with said barrel and saidseat infsaid annular packing and spaced from the latter, the end portionof said rst valve opposite the head of the latter being slidably mountedwith a slight peripheral play in said tubular seating, the innerdiameter of said tubular seating being greater than the outer diameterof said seat of frustum conical shape in said annular packing, anannular member having a central bore forming a seat for said secondvalve and near the end portion of said tubular seating opposite its endreceiving said rst valve and communicating with the inner end of saidhollow handle, an extension on the head of said second valve projectingthrough the bore of said annular member, a trigger mounted foroscillation on a spindle fast to the casing of the gun and arrangedwithin said handle, and an arm fast with said trigger and bearing on theend of said extension protruding through said annular member.

5. A gun for underwater fishing or hunting comprising, in combination, abarrel, a hollow casing provided with a hollow handle for supportingsaid barrel, a chamber inside said casing communicating at its one endwith the inside of the barrel, at its other end a pressure accumulatorformed by a tightly lclosed container of resilient material lled withpressure gas, an outer sheathing of perforated sheet metal surroundingsaid container of resilient material, an arrow for introducing in saidbarrel and freely slidable therein, a packing gland at the rear end ofthe said arrow for tightly closing said barrel upon introducing saidarrow therein, valve means for controlling the communication betweensaid chamber and the barrel inside receiving the arrow and directly withthe outside, said valve means being arranged in said chamber near theend of the latter adjacent the barrel, said valve means comprising a rstvalve in the form of a hollow cylinder open at one end, a tapered headat the other @11d of said rst valve, an annular packing at the end ofsaid chamber communicating with the barrel inside a seat of frustumconical shape in said packing for cooperating with the tapered head ofsaid rst valve, a second valve in the form of a hollow cylinder slidablymounted within the end portion of said iirst valve opposite the head ofthe latter and projecting therefrom, a tapered head at the end of saidsecond Valve, a tubular seating inside said chamber xedly secured to thesaid casing and coaxial with said barrel and said seat in said annularpacking and spaced from the latter, the end portion of said first valveopposite the head of the latter being slidably mounted with a slightperipheral play in said tubular seating, the inner diameter of saidtubular seating being greater than the outer diameter of said seat of`rusturn conical shape in said annular packing, an annular member havinga central bore forming a seat for said second valve and near the endportion of said tubular seating opposite its end receiving said firstvalve and communieating with the inner end of said hollow handle, anextension on the head of said second valve projecting through the boreof said annular member, a trigger mounted for oscillation on a spindlefast to the casing of the gun and arranged within said handle, and anarm fast with said trigger and bearing on the end of saidextension'protruding through said annular member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,517Jackson Aug. 7, 1888 1,272,421 Glissenti July 16, 1918 2,546,961 AmeroApr. 3, 1951 2,581,758 Galiano et al. Jan. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS909,725 France Ian. 7, 1946

